About Me

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Life is Really Strange

Today there is an interesting story about the lady who married into a Chinese family and raised 13 children.

Nothing very remarkable for an 89 year-old woman except that she was a Muslim who made that tentative move in 1936.

Perhaps it was a gentler age then and more Malaysians in the words of our first Prime Minister were very willing to “live and let live.”

Her life must have been full of challenges as anyone who has raised children will tell you and yet she must have lived life to the full and cherished her adopted lifestyle for more than 65 years.

Now that she has been called to meet her Maker it seems the earthly authorities want to decide if she should be buried according to their dictates.

Today even as Moorthy lies in his grave and a court appeal pending, we have another case where religious authorities are involved in a decision over a dead body.

If in 65 years they could not persuade her to return to her original faith, do you think it matters much how they decide to bury her?

In practice no matter what religion you are from – would you mind it if say someone who has become totally alien to the faith for eons is buried next to you, a person who has fulfilled all your religious duties?

If you believe in the spiritual world, would you be able to rest in peace? Or do you think that person buried next to you is going to keep the peace?